Apparatus for feeding and cutting a band of sheet material

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for feeding and cutting a band of sheet material such as a waistband which is to be sewn to a garment. More particularly, a cutting and guide assembly positioned at one end of an elongated guide structure which, in conjunction with the assembly, longitudinally guides the band of sheet material to a predetermined location to be sewn to a garment. A vertical roller is provided in advance of the assembly to guide the band thereto and reduce friction. The assembly includes an improved cutting structure positioned at a fixed distance from the predetermined location for cutting across the band to separate the sewn portion from the remainder of the band. The assembly is provided with means for adjusting its guide width for operation with bands of sheet material of varying widths. Also included in the assembly is structure for holding the band remainder after cutting for feeding to the next garment.

United States Patent Chiabrandy A BAND OF SHEET MATERIAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING Primary Examiner-Harrison L. Hinson Assistant Examiner-Leon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Blum, Moscovitz, Friedman ABSTRACT Apparatus for feeding and cutting a band of sheet material such as a waistband which is to be sewn to a gar ment. More particularly, a cutting and guide assembly positioned at one end of an elongated guide structure which, in conjunction with the assembly, longitudinally guides the band of sheet material to a predetermined location to be sewn to a garment. A vertical roller is provided in advance of the assembly to guide the band thereto and reduce friction. The assembly includes an improved cutting structure positioned at a fixed distance from the predetermined location for cutting across the band to separate the sewn portion from the remainder of the band. The assembly is provided with means for adjusting its guide width for operation with bands of sheet material of varying widths. Also included in the assembly is structure for holding the band remainder after cutting for feeding to the 16 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures [75] Inventor: Ilsiobert J. Chlabrandy, Saugus, & Kaplan ass.

[73] Assignee: Kayser-Roth Corporation, New

York, NY. [57] [22] Filed: Jan. 16, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 433,942

[52] US. Cl. 83/277; 83/385; 83/386;

83/440; 83/443; 83/452; 83/520 [51] Int. Cl. B26D l/l0; B26D 5/42 [58] Field of Search 83/452, 385, 386, 580,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,045,519 7/1962 Sarka 83/385 X 3,545,327 12/1970 Dorman 83/580 X 3,728,922 4/1973 Off 83/277 3,811,348 5/1974 Brown 83/580 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS h garment 883,780 7/1943 France My 6' f ,7 n1

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,921,483

' lllllll mu mum APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AND CUTTING A BAND OF SHEET MATERIAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to band feeders and cutters.

Apparatus for feeding a band of sheet material to a predetermined location to be sewn to a garment and thereafter to be separated from the remainder of the band of sheet material are known. More particularly, devices are known for longitudinally feeding sheet material to a sewing machine to be sewn thereat to a garmet part such as a waistband and thereafter for cutting across the waistband to separate the sewn length from the remainder and again feeding the next waistband section to the sewing machine to be sewn to the next garment.

The invention disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,728,922 is a significant technological advance over previously known devices in that it avoids their complexity of operation and complexity and frequency of maintenance, and does not damage the band of sheet material during feedings. However, a problem remains with respect to maintaining the band of sheet material in position while cutting the band and after separating the sewn length therefrom before feeding for sewing to the next garment. Frictional and guiding problems are also encountered with the feeding of the band onto the assembly, especially if the band of sheet material is not moved along a straight path. There is additionally no capability in the known devices for easily operating with varying widths of sheet material. Finally, the cutting of the sheet material is not entirely satisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to avoid the aforesaid disadvantages.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of holding a band stationary during a time such as the time during which the band is cut and subsequent to the cutting of the band.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide for a structure of the above type a construction which renders the work going forward on the band visible to a far greater extent than has heretofore been possible.

Further it is an object of the present invention to pro vide for a structure of the above type the possibility of adjusting the structure to accommodate bands of different widths.

In addition it is an object of the present invention to provide for a structure of the above type a guide assembly capable of guiding a band effectively even if the band does not travel along a straight path.

The apparatus of the present invention includes a cutting and guide assembly with a guide and friction reducing means positioned in advance of the assembly and with the assembly guide width being adjustable for operation with varying widths of sheet material. Also provided are means for maintaining the sheet material suitable in position during and after cutting and before feeding the separated remainder for sewing to the next garment. An improved cutting structure is also providcd.

The assembly disclosed herein may be advantageously employed in the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,728,922.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partly sectional longitudinal elevation of a band feeding and cutting apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional top plan view of the band cutting and feeding apparatus of FIG. 1 taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows and showing the cutting and guide assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal elevation of the structure of FIG. 2 taken along line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the structure of FIG. 2 taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing the cutting means of the assembly in its retracted initial position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 4 with the parts being shown in FIG. 5 in the position they take when the cutting means has been displaced to the end of its cutting stroke;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 66 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing a releasable holding means for maintaining the band of sheet material stationary;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 8 in the direction of the arrows and showing the upper part of the cutting means;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows and showing further details of the cutting means according to the invention;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective partly fragmentary view of the movable and stationary cutting members which form part of the cutting means according to the invention;

FIG. 10 fragmentarily illustrates in a transverse sectional elevation taken along line 1010 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows a rack and pinion gear which forms part of the means for adjusting the assembly guide width;

FIG. 11 fragmentarily illustrates, in a transverse sectional view taken along line l11l of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows, a means for guiding a band onto the assembly and reducing friction thereat according to the invention;

FIG. 12 is a sectional elevation of the cutting structure of FIG. 4 taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 4 in the direction of the arrows and showing the cutting means in its initial retracted position; and

FIG. 13 fragmentarily illustrates in a longitudinal sectional elevation an embodiment of means for releasably holding the band at the option of the operator.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown at the upper left region thereof a predetermined location 20 to which an elongated band of sheet material is to be'fed by the structure of the invention. This predetermined location 20 in the illustrated example is part of a sewing machine. Thus, there is schematically represented in FIG. 1 at the predetermined location 20 a throat plate 22, a presser foot 24, and a sewing needle 26. The band of sheet material which is acted upon by the structure of the invention may take the form, in the illustrated example, of a waistband 28 which is sewn at the location 20 to a garment portion 30.

The structure of the invention includes an elongated feed means 32 for longitudinally feeding the band of sheet material 28 to the predetermined location 20. This feed means 32 has a horizontal elongated portion 34 in the form of an elongated narrow strip of rigid metal or the like supported in any suitable way in the horizontal position indicated in FIG. 1. At the region of the location 20 is a guide means 36 and a cutting means 76.

The feed means 32 also includes an elongated transition strip 38 made of metal, for example, and operatively connected with the plate 34 as well as the assembly 36 for guiding the band of sheet material from the element 34 to assembly 36. The band of sheet material 28 is delivered from any suitable supply roll to the right end of element 34, as viewed in FIG. 1, in order to move along the top surface thereof.

The structure of the feed means 32 and its operation are fully described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,728,922 from which it is apparent that pneumatic assembly 33 feeds band 28 in a stepwise manner to guide means 36.

Referring to FIGS. l3, assembly 36 includes a stationary supporting member 40 in the form of a block of metal or the like fixed to any suitable mounting structure which maintains the block 40 stationary. The elongated transition strip 38 extends to and is operatively connected with the top surfacee 42 of block 40 to form a substantially continuous surface for the waistband sheet material 28 to move over. Assembly 36 has a cover means including an elongated plate portion 44 connected along one edge thereof by suitable screws to a side portion 46 of block 40 extending upwardly from the guide surface 42 on which band 28 moves. Plate 44 has its transverse rear edge 47 tapered to facilitate guiding the waistband sheet material 28 thereunder. Plate 44 is fastened to side portion 46 by screws 48. An opposed side portion 50 is part of an adjustable guide plate 52 slidably mounted on surface 42 for transverse movement thereon. As shown looking from the top in FIG. 2, adjustable guide plate 52 is generally of a U- shape, the rear and forward portions 50 and 54, respectively, being connected by the intermediate portion 56. Adjustable guide plate 52 is flanged at one end 57 thereof (FIG. 3) for connection with rack 90 (FIG. Side portion 46, top cover plate 44, adjustable side portion 50 and top surface 42 form a guide enclosure 58, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, for the waistband sheet material 28 in the rear portion of assembly 36. Top plate 44 extends to and, at another end thereof, rests on adjustable guide plate 50. Transverse movement of adjustable guide plate 52 with respect to surface 42 adjusts the width of enclosure 58 to thereby permit entry and guiding of varying widths of waistband sheet material 28. The structure of adjustable guide plate 52 including the adjusting means is described more fully hereinbelow.

Guiding of the waistband sheet material 28 along side portion 46 and into enclosure 58 is facilitated in certain cases by roller 60 positioned just in advance of rear edge 61 of side portion 46 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Guidance and movement of the waistband sheet material is also facilitated by tapered edge 47 of top plate 44 as described hercinabove and a stream of air introduced below the waistband through surface 42 as described hereinbelow. Feed means 32 is shown in line with guide means 36 in FIG. 1 for convenience. In many cases it will extend perpendicularly, for example, with respect to guide means 36, and in such cases transition plate 38 will be suitable twisted and guide roller 60 will come into play as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2. Upright roller 60, as shown in FIG. 11, com prises a cylindrical body 62 having a smooth outer surface and a smooth central axial bore 64 therethrough. Bore 64 is enlarged at the upper end thereof to form shoulder 66. Disposed axially in bore 64 is cylindrical sleeve 68 having a central bore therethrough which is coaxial with bore 64 and an enlarged upper portion 72 operative to engage and be seated on shoulder 66. Sleeve 68 is fixed to and entirely supported by sleeve 68. Sleeve 68 is preferably made of a material having a low coefficient of friction. Roller body 62 is secured to block 40 through the intermediary of sleeve 68 by screw 74.

Disposed between the ends of assembly 36 is cutting means 76 described in greater detail below.

Positioned beyond cutting means 76 on assembly 36 is an elongated front top plate 78 of the cover means connected along one side thereof to side portion 80 of block 40. Side portions 46 and 80 are identical and in line. Rear portion 46 is separated from front side portion 80 by a space accommodating the cutting means 76, as are the rear and front transparent top plates 44 and 78, respectively, of the cover means. An enlarged slot 81 (FIG. 5) is provided in block 40 for the cutting means 76. Plate 78 has its rear end curved away from the block surface 42. Plate 78 is fastened to side portion 80 by screws 82. Front portion 54 of adjustable side plate 52 is slidably mounted on the front portion of block top surface 42 to form the part of the adjustable means defining front space 84 with side portion 80, front top plate 78 and the front portion of block top surface 42, the enclosure 84 being similar to the rear guide enclosure 58, as described hereinabove, which is in advance of the cutting means 76.

Movement of adjustable guide plate 52, thus, permits simultaneous adjustment of the width enclosures 58 and 84 by moving adjustable guide plate portions 50 and 54 transversely across surface 42 as shown in FIG. 2 to thereby accommodate varying widths of band sheet material 28 between the inner edges of stationary side portions 46,80 and inner edges of transversely shiftable plates 50 and 54 at the guide means.

The means for adjusting the guide plate 52 comprises the rack and pinion gear arrangement 86 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, l0 and I1. Flanged end 57 of adjustable guide plate 52 is secured intermediate the ends thereof to enlarged end 88 of rack 90 at one end thereof by bolt 92. Thus, rack 90 extends perpendicularly to the inner guide edge. As guide plate portion 50 moves in enclosure 58, rack 90 moves in slot 94 formed in block 40. Pinion 96 is mounted on rod 98 at one end thereof and positioned to mesh with the gear teeth of rack 90. Pinion 96 is secured to rod 98 in known manner to rotate therewith. Mounted on the other end of rod 98, extending and accessible from the interior of assembly 36, is now 100. Spacer 102 surrounds rod 98 between the exterior surface of block 40 and knob 100. Rotation of knob 100, through rack and pinion arrangement 86, moves guide plate 52 transversely across surface 42.

Set screw 104 (FIG. 11 is provided for releasably locking the guide plate in selected positions by preventing rod 98 from rotating. Thus, means are provided for easily adjusting the width of guide surface of assembly. 36 by merely loosening set screw 104, rotating knob 100 and tightening set screw 104.

Included in the structure forming the cutting means 76 are a movable cutting blade 106 and a stationary blade 108. The cutting edge 109 of blade 106 is inclined with respect to the horizontal by an angle a, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, to facilitate cutting across the waistband sheet material. As shown in FIGS.s 7 and 8, blade 106 is urged against blade 108 by coil springs 110 through rods 112 disposed in respective bores 113 in block 40. Threaded plugs 114 screwed into threaded portions of the respective bores 113 compress springs 110 to maintain a spring pressure against blade 106 to urge it towards blade 108. Vertical grooves 116 (FIG. 9) are provided in blade 106 to receive rods 112. Thus, blade 106 is continually urged towards blade 108. Blade 106 is moved across cutting edge of blade 108 to thereby cut across waistband 28, edge 115 acting as a stationary cutting edge. Movement of blade 106 from its retracted initial position shown in FIG. 4 to the end of its cutting stroke shown in FIG. 5 is described hereinbelow. U-shaped blade 108 is secured at an angle with the vertical to block 40 at downwardly directed legs 118 and 120 by screws 121 through holes 122 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

In order to actuate cutting means 76, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 12, a bore 124 is provided in block 40 and houses a piston 126. Piston rod 128 extends from one end of piston 126 through an aperture in sealing plate 132. A circumferential groove 134 in plate 132 receives sealing ring 136 through which piston rod 128 slides in a fluid-tight manner. Sealing plate 132 is secured to block 40 by screws 138 (FIG. 12). Piston 126 is provided with a sealing ring 140 slidably engaging the inner surface of bore 124 in a fluid-tight manner. A second bore 142 coaxial with and of smaller diameter than bore 124 is provided in block 40 and receives piston extension 144. Piston extension 144 is formed by upper portion 146 and lower portion 148 separated by an annular grooved portion 150 in which is disposed a sealing ring 152 slidably engaging'bore 142 in a fluid-tight manner. Lower piston portion 148 is connected to piston 126 at annular shoulder 154 which is of larger diameter than bore 142. Connected to piston 144 is upper rod 156 of smaller diameter than bore 124 and terminating in an increased diameter flanged portion 158, forming a T-head. Blade 106 is provided with a mating T-slot to receive Thead 158 to thereby secure blade 106 to the piston as shown in FIG. 12. Piston 126 is displaced to actuate the cutting means 76 in a manner similar to that described in the aforementioned patent using suitable control means and a source of com pressed air utilizing bores 164 and 166 (FIG. 5).

In order to reduce frictional resistance to movement of the band of sheet material 28, an air stream is introduced beneath the band through branches 168 and 170 of bore 172 (FIG. 5) using suitable controls and a source of compressed air in a manner similaar to that described in the aforementioned patent.

Means are also provided for releasably holding the band 28 during actuation of piston 126. As shown in FIGS. 46, piston rod 128 is provided with a flanged lower end 174 on which slidably rests and end 176 of lever 178 The other end 182 of lever 178 is pivotably secured to block 40 by pin 184. Block 40 is provided with a vertical bore 186 having a bottom portion 188 of enlarged diameter. Rod or holding pin 190 is axially disposed in bore 186 and has connected at one end thereof a cap 192. Cap 192 has a flanged portion 194 at which the rod 190 is connected to cap 192. The other end 196 of the cap 192 is rounded and slidably engages lever 178. Thus, rod 190 is seated on lever 178 by cap 192. A spring 198 is disposed in the enlarged portion 188 of bore 186 and bears against flanges 194 and shoulder 198 of bore 186 to urge the rod in a downward direction. As piston 126 is actuated in the upward direction, lever 178 is pivoted about pin 184 by flange 174 to thereby urge the flange 194 upwards against thebias of spring 198. As rod 190 is thereby urged upwards its protrudes from bore 186 to press band 28 against cover plate 44 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. When piston 126 is not actuated, rod 190 is no higher than top surface 42, as shown in FIG. 4.

Alternately, as shown in FIG. 13, rod 190 may terminate in a piston portion 200 which engages the surface of bore portion 189 in a fluid-tight manner. Bore 202 extends through block 40 to bore portion 188 and is connected, through suitable control means, to a source of compressed air. Upon communicating bore 202 with a source of compressed air, when the operator opens a suitable valve, piston 200 is urged upwards against the bias of spring 198. Upon communicating bore 202 with the atmosphere, spring 198 urges piston 200 in a downward direction. Thus, rod 190 may be raised to hold a band of sheet material at the option of the operator.

As .is apparent from the above description, entry of band 28 from an angle and movement along assembly 36, is greatly improved by guide roller 60, if guide means 32 and assembly 36 are not positioned so that the band of sheet material moves along a straight path. Additionally, assembly 36 can accommodate varying widths of band material by merely loosening set screw 104, rotating knob 100 and tightening set screw 104. Cutting of the band is greatly improved by urging the movable cutting blade 106 against the stationary blade 108. Additionally, means are provided for releasably holding the band during cutting and immediately thereafter before feeding, for sewing to the next garment, to avoid any difficulties with respect to reverse movement of the-band. In order to facilitate observation of movement of the band of sheet material through assembly 36 during operation, transparent plates 44 and 78 form a transparent cover means.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for longitudinally feeding an elongated band to a predetermined location and for cutting across the band, elongated guide means situated at the region of said predetermined location for guiding a band longitudinally along a predetermined path to said location, means for selectively, intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of said band along said predetermined path to said predetermined location, cutting means cooperating with said guide means for cutting through said band at a given distance in advance of said predetermined location between selected advances of said band by said advancing means to sever the portion of said band at said predetermined location, and releasable holding means cooperating with said guide means for releasably holding said band stationary at a part of the band situated along said path in advance of said cutting means in at least a portion of the period during and after cutting by said cutting means, said holding means releasing said band before the next advance thereof by said advancing means, so that when the band is releasably held by said releasable holding means the part of the band extending from said cutting means in a direction away from said predetermined location is held in place, wherein said guide means includes an upwardly directed guide surface on which the band rests during movement along said path, a pair of side portions extending upwardly from said guide surface in a direction of said path and defining between themselves a space which the band is located while resting on said upwardly directed guide surface, and a cover situated over said upwardly directed guide surface and said side portions and being fixed to at least one of said side portions, said releasable holding means including an elongated holding pinsupported by said guide means for movement from a lower retracted position where said pin has a top end located no higher than said upwardly directed guide surface to an upper holding position where said pin projects upwardly beyond said upwardly directed guide surface and presses a band against a downwardly directed surface of said cover.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an operating means is operatively connected with said pin for displacing the latter between its lower retracted and upper holding position at the option of the operator.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said operating means is pneumatic.

4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said cutting means is movable first through a cutting stroke for cutting across the band and then back through a return stroke to an initial starting position, and operating means operatively connected with said cutting means and with said pin for displacing the latter from said lower retracted position to said upper holding position thereof in response to movement of said cutting means through said cutting stroke thereof.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said operating means automatically returns said pin to said lower retracted position thereof when said cutting means returns to said initial position thereof.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein a spring means is operatively connected with said pin for urging the latter to said lower retracted position thereof, a lever swingably carried by said guide means and engaging a lower end of said pin, and a projection carried by said cutting means and engaging said lever for swinging the latter to displace said pin upwardly in opposition to said spring means when said cutting means operates through a cutting stroke thereof, said spring means returning said pin to said lower retracted position thereof upon return of said cutting means to said initial position thereof.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said cutting means includes a substantially U-shaped anvil member having an upper transverse portion extending over said surface and spaced therefrom and a pair of downwardly directed portions situated at the ends of said elongated transverse portion and extending downwardly to and fixed to said guide means to define with said surface thereof an opening of substantially rectangular configuration through which the band moves; a cutting blade movable along a surface of said U-shaped member upwardly across a lower edge of said transverse portion thereof to cooperate with said lower edge for cutting across a band so that lower edge of said transverse portion of said U-shaped member forms a stationary cutting blade cooperating with the upper edge of said mov- 5 able cutting blade; and a spring means urging said cutting blade against said U-shaped member.

8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a pneumatic is operatively connected'with said cutting member for displacing the latter first upwardly along a cut- 10 ting stroke and then downwardly back to a return stroke.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elongated guide means has a straight guide surface along which the band moves to said predetermined location,

and elongated guide roller means fixed to said guide means in advance of said cutting means and extending upwardly therefrom, said guide roller means having an axis substantially perpendicular to said guide surface and being situated at one side of said guide surface for guiding a band from a path which is not in line with said guide surface around said guide roller on to said surface.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elongated guide means has an upwardly directed guide surface on which the band moves to said predetermined location, said guide means including a pair of opposed side portions extending upwardly from said side surface and defining between themselves a space between which the band is located, and adjusting means operatively connected with at least one of said side portions for moving the latter toward and away from the other of said side portions for adjusting the distance between said side portions so as to accommodate said side portions to the width of a band which is guided by said guide means.

11. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said adjusting means includes a rack extending substantially perpendicularly to and fixed to said one side portion, a rotary pinion meshing with said rack, and a knob engaging said pinion for manually rotating the latter to displace said one side portion toward and away from the other side portion.

12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein a set screw is carried by said guide means and a shaft extends between said knob and pinion to be releasably engaged by said set screw for holding said one side portion in an adjusted position with respect to the other side portion.

13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein a cover is fixed to said other side portion and extends over said one side portion without being fixed thereto so that said one side portion is movable between said cover and said upwardly directed guide surface.

14. A combination of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said cover means is transparent to render the width of said band visible.

15. The combination of claim 1, including spring means operatively connected with said pin for normally urging said pin to said lower retracted position.

16. The combination of claim 1, wherein said cutting means includes a movable cutting blade displaceable across the path of said band from one side of said path and a fixed cutting member positioned on the other side of said path for cooperation with said movable cutting blade to effect cutting of said band, said cutting means further including a spring means urging said cutting blade toward said cutting member in a direction substantially parallel to the path of said band. 

1. In an apparatus for longitudinally feeding an elongated band to a predetermined location and for cutting across the band, elongated guide means situated at the region of said predetermined location for guiding a band longitudinally along a predetermined path to said location, means for selectively, intermittently advancing predetermined lengths of said band along said predetermined path to said predetermined location, cutting means cooperating with said guide means for cutting through said band at a given distance in advance of said predetermined location between selected advances of said band by said advancing means to sever the portion of said band at said predetermined location, and releasable holding means cooperating with said guide means for releasably holding said band stationary at a part of the band situated along said path in advance of said cutting means in at least a portion of the period during and after cutting by said cutting means, said holding means releasing said band before the next advance thereof by said advancing means, so that when the band is releasably held by said releasable holding means the part of the band extending from said cutting means in a direction away from said predetermined location is held in place, wherein said guide means includes an upwardly directed guide surface on which the band rests during movement along said path, a pair of side portions extending upwardly from said guide surface in a direction of said path and defining between themselves a space which the band is located while resting on said upwardly directed guide surface, and a cover situated over said upwardly directed guide surface and said side portions and being fixed to at least one of said side portions, said releasable holding means including an elongated holding pin supported by said guide means for movement from a lower retracted position where said pin has a top end located no higher than said upwardly directed guide surface to an upper holding position where said pin projects upwardly beyond said upwardly directed guide surface and presses a band against a downwardly directed surface of said cover.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein an operating means is operatively connected with said pin for displacing the latter between its lower retracted and upper holding position at the option of the operator.
 3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said operating means is pneumatic.
 4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said cutting means is movable first through a cutting stroke for cutting across the band and then back through a return stroke to an initial starting position, and operating means operatively connected with said cutting means and with said pin for displacing the latter from said lower retracted position to said upper holding position thereof in response to movement of said cutting means through said cuttiNg stroke thereof.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said operating means automatically returns said pin to said lower retracted position thereof when said cutting means returns to said initial position thereof.
 6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein a spring means is operatively connected with said pin for urging the latter to said lower retracted position thereof, a lever swingably carried by said guide means and engaging a lower end of said pin, and a projection carried by said cutting means and engaging said lever for swinging the latter to displace said pin upwardly in opposition to said spring means when said cutting means operates through a cutting stroke thereof, said spring means returning said pin to said lower retracted position thereof upon return of said cutting means to said initial position thereof.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said cutting means includes a substantially U-shaped anvil member having an upper transverse portion extending over said surface and spaced therefrom and a pair of downwardly directed portions situated at the ends of said elongated transverse portion and extending downwardly to and fixed to said guide means to define with said surface thereof an opening of substantially rectangular configuration through which the band moves; a cutting blade movable along a surface of said U-shaped member upwardly across a lower edge of said transverse portion thereof to cooperate with said lower edge for cutting across a band so that lower edge of said transverse portion of said U-shaped member forms a stationary cutting blade cooperating with the upper edge of said movable cutting blade; and a spring means urging said cutting blade against said U-shaped member.
 8. The combination of claim 7 and wherein a pneumatic is operatively connected with said cutting member for displacing the latter first upwardly along a cutting stroke and then downwardly back to a return stroke.
 9. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elongated guide means has a straight guide surface along which the band moves to said predetermined location, and elongated guide roller means fixed to said guide means in advance of said cutting means and extending upwardly therefrom, said guide roller means having an axis substantially perpendicular to said guide surface and being situated at one side of said guide surface for guiding a band from a path which is not in line with said guide surface around said guide roller on to said surface.
 10. The combination of claim 1, wherein said elongated guide means has an upwardly directed guide surface on which the band moves to said predetermined location, said guide means including a pair of opposed side portions extending upwardly from said side surface and defining between themselves a space between which the band is located, and adjusting means operatively connected with at least one of said side portions for moving the latter toward and away from the other of said side portions for adjusting the distance between said side portions so as to accommodate said side portions to the width of a band which is guided by said guide means.
 11. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said adjusting means includes a rack extending substantially perpendicularly to and fixed to said one side portion, a rotary pinion meshing with said rack, and a knob engaging said pinion for manually rotating the latter to displace said one side portion toward and away from the other side portion.
 12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein a set screw is carried by said guide means and a shaft extends between said knob and pinion to be releasably engaged by said set screw for holding said one side portion in an adjusted position with respect to the other side portion.
 13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein a cover is fixed to said other side portion and extends over said one side portion without being fixed thereto so that said one side portion is movable between said cover and said upwardly directed guide surface.
 14. A combination of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said cover means is transparent to render the width of said band visible.
 15. The combination of claim 1, including spring means operatively connected with said pin for normally urging said pin to said lower retracted position.
 16. The combination of claim 1, wherein said cutting means includes a movable cutting blade displaceable across the path of said band from one side of said path and a fixed cutting member positioned on the other side of said path for cooperation with said movable cutting blade to effect cutting of said band, said cutting means further including a spring means urging said cutting blade toward said cutting member in a direction substantially parallel to the path of said band. 